Generosity of former 4-H’er sends children to camp

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University alumna Natalie Smith joined 4-H as a 10-year-old in Hancock County, where she and her two brothers attended county and state camps.

Fond experiences from those 4-H camps inspired Smith to establish the Natalie P. & Maynard H. Smith 4-H Camp Scholarship to benefit Hancock County 4-H’ers.

Once fully funded, the endowment will send youths from the county to the Older 4-H Members’ Conference, Alpha I or Alpha II State 4-H Camp each year.

Lasting legacy

Smith has been supporting campers in the county for several years through annual contributions, but she wanted to ensure a lasting legacy in her home county.

“I have received thank you notes and pictures of the scholarship recipients,” she said. “I recognize many of the names. The campers who received the scholarships are probably grandchildren or great-grandchildren of my 4-H camp friends from years ago.”

Smith attended West Virginia University, earning degrees in zoology and chemistry. Following graduation, she married Maynard Smith. His career as a heavy equipment salesman brought them to their home in Harrisburg, Pa.

Awards

Smith was very active in 4-H and won 4-H awards for sewing, costume design and canning. In addition to county and state 4-H camps, she was one of a select few West Virginia 4-H’ers chosen to attend Camp Minnewanka in Michigan for three years.

Although she lives in central Pennsylvania, Smith has remained close to her West Virginia 4-H roots. She is interested in the important role that the state 4-H camp at Jackson’s Mill has in the life of West Virginia 4-H’ers, and she has contributed to the renovations of several cottages as well as other projects at the Mill.